How to Train Your Dragon
Director: Dean Deblois, Chris Sanders
Cast: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera
When a clumsy Viking named Hiccup inadvertently takes down the most feared dragon in his village, he embarks on a journey that will allow him to befriend the beast that everyone fears and show his village that sometimes even the most fearsome monsters are able to be understood.
Hiccup and Toothless share a connection because they are both opposite sides of the same coin; they are both misunderstood outcasts. The irony of the relationship between these two unlikely heroes is that while both could have easily killed the other, they instead chose to show mercy. From that mercy, they forged a bond that would become stronger as their story played out. There is a moment in the gorge when Hiccup holds his hand out to the dragon he names Toothless. This is an important turning point in their relationship because up until this point, Toothless has regarded Hiccup with fear and suspicion. By choosing to touch Hiccup’s hand with his nose, Toothless is showing him that he has finally won his trust.
The bond that connects Hiccup and Toothless is not only an emotional bond but a physical one as well. Toothless – who is identified early on as the Night Fury – is the dragon that the Vikings fear the most because, unlike the other dragons, he remains unseen in the shadows wielding his power under the dark shroud of night. When Hiccup’s succeeds in bringing the dreaded Night Fury down, he realizes that by doing so, he robbed Toothless of his ability to fly. When Toothless saves Hiccup during the final battle with the Alpha dragon, his heroic act allowed his young friend to live, but it also came with a terrible price. Although Hiccup lived, a part of him – his leg - was sacrificed. The irony of both of these losses is that the same individual who caused the pain was also the one to heal it.
The relationship between Hiccup and his father, Stoik is equally as strong, only in a different way. In the beginning, Stoik treats his son like an unwanted nuisance - especially in the face of danger – because unlike the other warriors, Hiccup is clumsy and awkward. In his deepest heart however, Stoik is only trying to protect him from the dangers lurking in the shadows beyond their village. When Stoik decides to give Hiccup the chance to prove his worth by putting him in dragon training, this should strengthen the relationship between father and son, but instead, their relationship is challenged by Hiccup’s growing bond with Toothless and his realization that dragons aren’t the real enemy.
When the truth is finally revealed at the final dragon battle, the pain of Hiccup’s betrayal is the catalyst which causes Stoik to break the fragile bond he has with his son. Even so, as he leaves to go to war against the dragons, there is an expression of heartbroken pain on Stoik’s face as he leaves. In spite of their different perspectives, he still truly loves his son. Stoik’s love for Hiccup is ultimately expressed when – after Toothless is shot down in battle – he believes his son has been killed. The joy of seeing his son still alive is the catalyst which heals the relationship between father and son and allows Stoik to finally see that dragons are not the enemy.
“How to Train Your Dragon” is a stunning and epic tale of adventure and the love forged between two unlikely friends that would forever change their lives. The animation is breathtaking, the casting is stellar and the story, which is one of the strongest elements in the movie, is both humorous and heartwarming allows the message to shine through without overwhelming the audience. This film is highly recommended to anyone who loves Dreamworks at its best.
© 2013 – 2016 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.
Director: Dean Deblois, Chris Sanders
Cast: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera
When a clumsy Viking named Hiccup inadvertently takes down the most feared dragon in his village, he embarks on a journey that will allow him to befriend the beast that everyone fears and show his village that sometimes even the most fearsome monsters are able to be understood.
Hiccup and Toothless share a connection because they are both opposite sides of the same coin; they are both misunderstood outcasts. The irony of the relationship between these two unlikely heroes is that while both could have easily killed the other, they instead chose to show mercy. From that mercy, they forged a bond that would become stronger as their story played out. There is a moment in the gorge when Hiccup holds his hand out to the dragon he names Toothless. This is an important turning point in their relationship because up until this point, Toothless has regarded Hiccup with fear and suspicion. By choosing to touch Hiccup’s hand with his nose, Toothless is showing him that he has finally won his trust.
The bond that connects Hiccup and Toothless is not only an emotional bond but a physical one as well. Toothless – who is identified early on as the Night Fury – is the dragon that the Vikings fear the most because, unlike the other dragons, he remains unseen in the shadows wielding his power under the dark shroud of night. When Hiccup’s succeeds in bringing the dreaded Night Fury down, he realizes that by doing so, he robbed Toothless of his ability to fly. When Toothless saves Hiccup during the final battle with the Alpha dragon, his heroic act allowed his young friend to live, but it also came with a terrible price. Although Hiccup lived, a part of him – his leg - was sacrificed. The irony of both of these losses is that the same individual who caused the pain was also the one to heal it.
The relationship between Hiccup and his father, Stoik is equally as strong, only in a different way. In the beginning, Stoik treats his son like an unwanted nuisance - especially in the face of danger – because unlike the other warriors, Hiccup is clumsy and awkward. In his deepest heart however, Stoik is only trying to protect him from the dangers lurking in the shadows beyond their village. When Stoik decides to give Hiccup the chance to prove his worth by putting him in dragon training, this should strengthen the relationship between father and son, but instead, their relationship is challenged by Hiccup’s growing bond with Toothless and his realization that dragons aren’t the real enemy.
When the truth is finally revealed at the final dragon battle, the pain of Hiccup’s betrayal is the catalyst which causes Stoik to break the fragile bond he has with his son. Even so, as he leaves to go to war against the dragons, there is an expression of heartbroken pain on Stoik’s face as he leaves. In spite of their different perspectives, he still truly loves his son. Stoik’s love for Hiccup is ultimately expressed when – after Toothless is shot down in battle – he believes his son has been killed. The joy of seeing his son still alive is the catalyst which heals the relationship between father and son and allows Stoik to finally see that dragons are not the enemy.
“How to Train Your Dragon” is a stunning and epic tale of adventure and the love forged between two unlikely friends that would forever change their lives. The animation is breathtaking, the casting is stellar and the story, which is one of the strongest elements in the movie, is both humorous and heartwarming allows the message to shine through without overwhelming the audience. This film is highly recommended to anyone who loves Dreamworks at its best.
© 2013 – 2016 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.